We live in a challenging world and in difficult times, but adversity breeds innovation, leading us to consider different, perhaps better, approaches. This year’s conference theme provides an opportunity to reflect on our successes and evaluate what could have gone better. To ensure a viable and proactive future for our associated groups of professions, it is imperative that any forward-looking discussions must be through the lens of Sustainability, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. We must view them as fundamental pillars of the next generation of the recordkeeping sector and ensure that we move beyond well-meaning but tokenistic gestures. This year's conference theme: Next Generation: Innovation and Imagination in Recordkeeping gives us an opportunity to ask how things were, how things are, how things could be and what are we doing to get there? 

We are encouraging submissions from all who have an interest in the recordkeeping sector and particularly encourage people to tell us what they and their organisations are doing to fulfil the theme. Professional curiosity, facing up to uncomfortable truths, listening to voices of dissent, are all vital to challenge the status quo. Are these the next generation's superpowers and is this how we make our services safe and positive places for all? How do we turn risks and threats into opportunities, making the maximum impact with often limited resources and the ever-present call for income generation? Are we forever a Cinderella service? It doesn't take a lot of imagination to make our collections sparkle – how do you make yours shine? 

But the shape of the conference is up to everyone in the recordkeeping sector – your proposals and submissions, your stories will drive the programme forward.

Yours sincerely,

ARA 2025 Organising Committee